Re: Cost break down of any system for less than $400, including organic options

This is great! I'm pregnant with our first and was really overwhelmed when I first started looking at diapers, especially since our budget is tight. Here's what I ended up getting:

6 packs of Osocozy birdseye flats from amazon (36 total flats)- $59.70
7 one size wool covers from MamaBear Babywear on ebay @ $18 each (2 thick, 5 medium, all no closure) - $126
Snappis, pack of five - $11.95
Wipes: made from old flannel and towels with holes I had sitting around.

Total so far - 197.65

I still need a diaper pail and some pins, maybe some more snappis, but basically I'll have everything I *need* for under $250.

There are still a few things I want, however, like I would love a couple one-size AIO diapers for outings and such, so I don't have to deal with flats while running errands. If my MIL doesn't get this, we'll end up buying them. I also want to buy some fleece to try my hand at some newborn fleece soakers, so by the time I'm actually done, I'll likely be around $350.

Thanks for posting this! I'm sure it'll be a big help to people trying to CD for the first time on a budget- I know I saw some things I'd wished I'd known about when I first started looking.

Re: Cost break down of any system for less than $400, including organic options

Wow thanks for all that work.

I recently did a survey here (link is still below, with results on the last page of that thread), that indicated people expect to spend below $500 but tend to spend between $500-750. The biggest culprit appeared to be "One Size" systems that really don't end up being one-sized.

Additional research I've done shows that people usually start with a newborn size, then go to one size, and then have a toddler or PLing solution (because so many OS quit at 30-35 lbs.

Keeping *that* in mind, here are some other considerations:

-- You can keep your costs below $400 overall on sized systems if you take good care of your diapers and resell them.

-- Lots of people who start with flats then "upgrade" tend to return to them, finding out that flats and prefolds really aren't significantly more trouble than AIOs. For us, folding the AIOs (getting them straightened out and ready to put on) took the same amount of time as folding flats. And AIOs created far more laundry drama (our utility bills went up $20 a month).

--Flats can fit into lots of covers, including pockets, which means you may have to buy new covers but not inners (and inners are where we need the most pieces).

So if I had to make a stash that wasn't flats or prefolds, for $400 or less, I would do ...

Re: Cost break down of any system for less than $400, including organic options

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrennaII

Wow thanks for all that work.

I recently did a survey here (link is still below, with results on the last page of that thread), that indicated people expect to spend below $500 but tend to spend between $500-750. The biggest culprit appeared to be "One Size" systems that really don't end up being one-sized.

Additional research I've done shows that people usually start with a newborn size, then go to one size, and then have a toddler or PLing solution (because so many OS quit at 30-35 lbs.

Keeping *that* in mind, here are some other considerations:

-- You can keep your costs below $400 overall on sized systems if you take good care of your diapers and resell them.

-- Lots of people who start with flats then "upgrade" tend to return to them, finding out that flats and prefolds really aren't significantly more trouble than AIOs. For us, folding the AIOs (getting them straightened out and ready to put on) took the same amount of time as folding flats. And AIOs created far more laundry drama (our utility bills went up $20 a month).

--Flats can fit into lots of covers, including pockets, which means you may have to buy new covers but not inners (and inners are where we need the most pieces).

So if I had to make a stash that wasn't flats or prefolds, for $400 or less, I would do ...

If you don't like gPants, substitute Flips. Or sized Thirsties, they cost even less.

That's an awesome setup! I just might suggest that to my roommates, if they end up wanting to do something besides flats/prefolds. Thank you. I'd love it if people keep contributing to this thread as that was the original hope